Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

The announcement by the Scottish Government of a new £6 million Scottish Land Fund, intended to help more rural communities buy their land, has been warmly welcomed by Scotland's community land owners.

Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson launched the fund – which will be delivered by Big Lottery Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise - during a visit to Galson Estate which was today celebrating the fifth anniversary of its successful land buyout.

Mr Stevenson said, "Community land ownership can bring tremendous benefits both to communities themselves and Scotland as a whole. Land ownership is key to building independent, resilient rural communities and creating a sense of confidence and community empowerment.

“That’s why the Scottish Government continues to fully support buyouts and is committed to providing opportunities for rural communities to acquire land. The Scottish Land Fund, which we are launching today, is designed to give more rural communities the opportunities which communities like Galson have already enjoyed.

"Both Big Lottery Scotland and HIE will ensure the fund makes the best use of existing resources and expertise to maximise the land fund’s potential.

"These are exciting times for Scotland and this fund will help more of our rural areas to take control of their own destinies and build the successful, flourishing communities of tomorrow.”

John Watt, Director of Strengthening Communities with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), said, “The new Scottish Land Fund will be welcomed in rural communities throughout the country, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise is delighted to be playing a part, along with our colleagues in Big Lottery Fund Scotland.

“There's a definite appetite for this kind of assistance, and HIE looks forward to assisting communities across all of rural Scotland who are interested in making a land purchase.

“With many years' experience in this field, we can offer valuable advice, information and support to help communities prepare their bids, and to design and deliver projects which will make the most of the assets they acquire.”

The announcement was warmly welcomed by David Cameron, Chairman of Community Land Scotland, the representative body for Scotland’s community land owners, who said, “This is first rate news. With this new land fund comes new opportunity for more communities to share in the benefits of taking control of the land on which they live and work. Already a new confidence has been growing within the communities which have taken control, new economic opportunities are being created, once dying communities are reviving and growing. It is simply great that more communities will now be able to get support to take the opportunity of owning their own land and future.

 “A year ago there was a sense that the momentum had gone out of the movement toward more communities taking over their land, following rapid progress in the early part of the new century. We are pleased the Scottish Government has taken action to ensure that momentum can be regained and I look forward to the new fund being heavily subscribed and used in the years to come, and I hope that, as in the first Land Fund, if demand is sufficient, the fund will be increased to meet that demand.

”What we now need is active promotion of the fund to communities who can aspire to a better future, through their ownership and active management of the land they occupy, bringing new investment and the promoting new opportunities.”